Tunia's Home - Providence, Rhode Island

Reservoir Avenue School

Tunia left James Hill School in Canada on May 23rd. It should take her a few days to arrive back home. The second grade students in Room 201 at Reservoir Avenue School are eagerly awaiting her arrival. Her friends have missed her, but they have enjoyed her journey as they followed her on the Internet. Everyone in Room 201 is grateful to the teachers and students who shared Tunia's journey and provided her with the adventures she had throughout the United States and Canada.

June 5, 2000: Tunia arrived at Reservoir Avenue School this morning to the delight of all her friends. She appeared a bit tired, but the reunion with everyone in 201 went well. Tunia visited with some of the students as they worked, and she seemed to be an inspiration as the students continued writing poetry. Counting today, only eleven days are left in this school year, and there is still much to accomplish. Of course, as Tunia and her friends know, just because the school year ends, learning does not stop. Reading, writing, exploring, and discovering new things happen all through the year. The summer gives everyone a chance to practice what he or she already knows, along with an opportunity to strengthen that knowledge and also make new discoveries. Tunia will certainly be busy all summer long. She knows her friends will, too!

June 7, 2000: Tunia spent more time catching up on what was going on in 201 while she was away. Today, her friends spent time revising and editing poems, and some students even wrote new poems about her. The students are being very careful to choose words carefully for their poems. They are learning that poems usually contain concise language. That means, in poems, carefully selected words should paint an image in the audience's minds with just a few really well chosen words. The boys and girls have not only been careful with their word choices, but they have also brainstormed some really great ideas for poems. It appears Tunia may be a muse as well as a ladybug!

Tunia poses under cuttings from an apple and a nectarine tree. A tiny nectarine is visible on the upper left, and several tiny apples are visible on the right side. Tunia's friends in 201 forced branches from this same apple tree into bloom earlier this year while Tunia was traveling. The students also forced forsythia and dogwood branches into bloom. 201 was decorated with flowers while it was still winter!

Tunia is checking the progress of some Four O'Clocks her friends in 201 planted. These annual plants produce trumpet-shaped flowers that open late in the day, around 4:00, and stay open all night. They often open all day long on cloudy days. In this photo, Tunia is wearing a pin she brought back home to R.I. from James Hill School in Langley, B.C., Canada.

June 10-11, 2000: Tunia came home to her garden this weekend. She wanted to see what had changed since she left in October, 1999. At that time, her garden was ready for the cold weather, and many plants had passed their seasons or were going dormant. Some plants cannot survive when winter temperatures are too low. Other plants cannot live where summer temperatures are too high. For that reason, areas of the world are labeled by zones, which help gardeners to know what plants will grow best in their areas. The year-round temperatures in an area determine what zone it is. Tunia's garden is in Zone 6 and, knowing that, Tunia selects the best plants for her garden.

When Tunia explored her Zone 6 garden, she saw much to be excited about, and many plants reminded her of places she had visited throughout this school year. She had a wonderful time on her journey. Tunia knows schools in Providence will be closed for summer vacation in six days. Though she will miss her school friends during that time, she has many things to do in her garden, and she knows that many of her friends will keep their eyes on her website and make use of its activities throughout their vacations. It will be a busy summer!

Tunia peers over a branch of her apple tree. Apples are plentiful on the tree, and they will take all summer to ripen. The apple branches that Tunia's friends in 201 forced into bloom came from this tree.

Tunia looks closely at the lobelia, which grows nicely in the shadier part of her garden. This annual plant will grow for only one season in Rhode Island, and then it will die because it cannot withstand the winter temperatures in Tunia's Zone 6 garden.

Tunia rests behind her chives, which have bloomed. Chives are a relative of onions. Many people use this herb in cooking. Others grow it to enjoy the long-lasting flowers.

Find information about Rhode Island at 50states.com.

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Click on the arrow to see what Tunia did on her summer vacation.